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DEC (GTA West) Glenn Marrett, DEC Toronto Malcolm Kendall, On Thursday, February 6, VA3KRA Oakville/Milton ARES EC
VE3CEZ, report: VE3BGD, report: attended the Burlington Amateur George Davis, VE3OGP, report:
Radio Club general meeting and
January has continued to assault At the last meeting of the Toronto provided an ARES report. The January meeting found us
us with wind and snow throughout Amateur Radio Club the members reviewing our members adventures
the GTA. An effort to put together a agreed to affliate an ARES group On Monday, February 3, 10, 17 of the ice storm that struck the GTA
Winter Field Day site in Halton was within the club. We already have and 24, EC Kevin, VA3KRA, in December.
abandoned due to unsafe driving two ARES members out of this attended the VR Pro committee
conditions, and those who were club (Tim, VA3TMA and Ralph, meetings in preparation for the The frst edition of the new “ARES
going to participate were advised VE3RWO) with the possibility of at Chilly Half-Marathon Run / Walk & Update” newsletter was published
to stay home and operate from a least two more members to come. Frosty 5K run on March 2. in early January. Further editions
warm and safe location. Members of the club assisted with Organizers were expecting close to will be made available to our
a test of Fldigi NBEMS system on 4,000 runners/walkers between the members via download off the
On the evening of January 29, the HF that was completed successfully. three events. About 20 radio private yahoo group.
Halton Region Emergency operators will be needed to support Mother Nature stepped up its
Communication Team met at the Regarding the Toronto Red Cross communications for the organizing
Regional Centre on Bronte, where I Group we have set up a regular committee, medical, and logistics wintery assault for the winter Field
Day. Due to a winter storm with
participated as an observer at the monthly meeting of the Toronto which includes water stations, start/
meeting. ARES group along with volunteers fnish, route coordination and a high winds it was decided that the
from the Red Cross. This group is poor driving conditions made
Although still very cold at this growing and we have another two variety of other duties. Proceeds getting to the WFD site unsafe. As
writing, it appears that ARES people that would like to become go to the Joseph Brant Hospital a result we cancelled the remote
activity in support of groups licensed operators within the Red foundation. This is the next largest operation and recommended to our
requesting communication Cross and ARES. We are starting road race in the area to the Around members to operate from the
assistance is starting to pick up. to train the group using the the Bay road race in Hamilton later safety of their homes. Reports from
It is also encouraging to observe Incident Management System. We in March. those participating indicated that a
the inter-sectional assistance hope to have a Red Cross digital On Sunday February 9, Burlington good time was had.
being provided by our ARES net up and running by the end of & Oakville ARES along with the
groups in the GTA. During the this month. TB Radio Communications group A training session was held at our
recent Chilly Half-Marathon held in provided communications for the February meeting. The setup and
Burlington, radio operators from City of Toronto Malcolm Kendall, Valentine’s Day Sweetheart use of Fldigi for ARES groups was
Oakville, Milton, Burlington, VA3BGD report: Couples & Singles 5K Run which presented and as we will be
Brampton, Mississauga and had just over 350 participants. approaching the spring, a refresher
Toronto all volunteered their time to See Toronto DEC report above. Thank you to John, VA3BL, Gary, of CanWarn operations rounded
ensure a successful, impressive Brampton / Caledon ARES VE3TTO, Shawn, VA3MFD and out the session.
demonstration of the power of EC Richard Upfeld, VA3RMU: Kevin, VA3KRA, for their A training session was held during
cooperation! Well done to those participation. our February meeting. Glenn,
who stepped forward and gave After a busy year in 2013, there VE3CEZ, presented a talk on how
their time! More to come on this were no offcial ARES events for On Thursday, February 27, VA3KRA to setup and use the program
next month! the month of January. Our ARES attended the Burlington Amateur Fldigi, with emphasis on its
meetings continue on the third Radio Club board of directors
Fldigi is becoming a mode that Monday of each month and we meeting and provided an ARES application for use in ARES
ARES groups around the GTA have been working with the report. operations. The demo included a
should really start to study and Fldigi software for our ARES hands-on demonstration.
experiment with if they haven’t communications. We continue Burlington ARES has participated Afterwards Glenn gave a
already started doing so. It is a working and making good progress in four of the Halton Region PowerPoint presentation on SSTV.
very accessible program to with the Fldigi communication Emergency Communications Team The ARES group has now received
download off the internet and many software at our monthly meetings (HRECT) nets for the month of a donation of a small travel trailer.
thanks go to Malcolm, VE3BGD, as well as on our weekly ARES February with EC Kevin, VA3KRA, A committee has been struck to
for providing assistance to groups net. We have decided to make this as the NCS for February 25. formulate plans to convert it to a
that have requested his experience an offcial communication software Georgetown/HARC ARES mobile radio station platform.
in setting up this digital program to for our ARES communications.
use. One of the key factors for the EC Lyle Winfeld, VA3VI, report: OBS reporting: VE3JUZ, VE3SHM
use of Fldigi is the many forms Burlington ARES EC Kevin The VE3PKG packet node has – George Duffeld, VE3WKJ
contained within the software for Andrews, VA3KRA, report: been replaced and is now active
use by the many agencies we may On Thursday, January 2, Kevin once again. The node was MARITIMES:
serve at any particular point. Also, VA3KRA, attended the Burlington available from the frst week of
there are many operational modes ARC General Meeting. A report January. VHF (VE3OD) and UHF SM: Craig Seaboyer, VE1DSS
that can be used within the was given on ARES “Standby” (VE3HR) repeaters operational, JANUARY-FEBRUARY
program during emergencies or activation by Halton Region for the both with 100% uptime in January SM REPORT:
hobby use. Agreed upon standards December 22 Ice Storm. and February. (Report fled by AEC
enable users to make contacts Bob Scanferla, VA3RJS) After taking the past year off from
quickly and effectively without the On Monday, January 20, VA3KRA most of my duties as Section
use of any other gear other than a attended the monthly meeting of Mississauga ARES EC Thomas Manager for the Maritimes for
computer/laptop and a radio with a the Halton Red Cross Disaster Bernard, VA3TMB, report: personal reasons, I’m back and I
microphone! Management meeting. This At the monthly meeting held on hope to be active again.
meeting focused on a debriefng of
A generous donation of a travel the RC’s involvement in the Thursday January 16, Ed, VE3TPV, Over the past year the Amateur
trailer to the Oakville ARES group December 22nd Ice Storm. presented the theory of Fldigi Radio scene has changed
by George, VE3OGP, will enable followed by a live demonstration of dramatically for our small
the group to set up for emergency On Monday, January 27, VA3KRA the MT63 digital mode. At the community in rural Nova Scotia
use and have mobile shelter for attended the VR Pro Committee meeting on Thursday, February 20, and this is one reason that I put
inclement weather. It is important meeting. On Wednesday, January Toronto DEC Malcolm Kendall, aside the responsibilities of
not only to be able to confgure the 29, VA3KRA attended the Halton VE3BGD, came out to demo Fldigi. Section Manager.
trailer for use, but also fnd a willing Region Emergency Communications It was a useful discussion and I feel that in order to represent the
partner that will allow the group to Team meeting (HRECT) and he demo. Amateurs in the Greater Maritimes,
store (hopefully at no cost) and attended the Burlington ARC Despite the treacherous driving I had to frst help to rebuild our local
provide access the trailer easily Board of Directors meeting on conditions on that day, eight club. So, after 10 years of hibernation,
when needed. Thank you George Thursday, January 30 and provided attendees were present. We plan the Antigonish Amateur Radio Club
for your kind donation! an ARES report. Burlington ARES to explore this more at future ARES has been reborn. With the
has participated in four of the meetings to go over setup and use dedication of our new President,
HRECT nets in January.
again. Doug Holmes, VE1AHF, the club
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